Callum Hudson-Odoi could have been the villain of the story if not for VAR as Chelsea and Manchester United played out a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
The happier side would be the hosts, who remain unbeaten in their nine games since Thomas Tuchel joined, but they, however, missed out on a chance to go into the top four, while United’s hopes of catching leaders Manchester City are fading fast, with the gap between them now 12 points.
The major talking point of the game came 14 minutes in when Hudson-Odoi handled in the Blues’ box but after a VAR check advised referee Stuart Attwell to watch a replay on the pitchside monitor, he decided against awarding a penalty - a decision which infuriated United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
David de Gea also kept United in the game down the line after making a sharp save to keep out Hakim Ziyech early in the second half while Edouard Mendy dealt with Scott McTominay’s firm effort not long after on the other end.
This was United’s fifth 0-0 against ‘big six’ opposition from seven fixtures, a familiar scoreline in recent times, including each of their last four.
The Reds would have to be more clinical in front of goal when they visit Manchester City next Sunday, after their midweek trip to Crystal Palace, if they’re to keep their faint title hopes alive.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- This fixture has finished goalless in both matches in a league campaign for just the second time, the other occasion coming in 1921-22.
- Manchester United are now unbeaten in 20 away league matches (W13 D7), a run that started in this exact fixture last season. It is the joint-fifth-longest run without an away defeat in top-flight history, the only longer runs coming from Arsenal (27 and 23), Liverpool (21) and Nottingham Forest (21).
- Manchester United have failed to score a single goal in their last six league meetings with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Spurs - each of their last four such matches have finished goalless.
- Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has become just the second coach not to concede a single goal in his four home matches in the Premier League after Brendan Rodgers in 2011-12 with Swansea City. Including his final two such matches in charge of PSG, Tuchel has gone six matches without conceding at home in league competition.
- Chelsea have failed to score in their last four league games against Man Utd, attempting a total of 59 shots in these matches - it’s the first time they’ve gone four top-flight league games without scoring against an opponent since 1958-1960 vs Bolton Wanderers.
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